How crocodiles became aquatic

[Halichoeres]

This new paper uses the phylogeny of crocodylomorphs and the occurrence of various taxa to reconstruct where and how often crocodiles shifted between habitats. Crocs went aquatic at least three times according to this analysis: once among the thalattosuchians (Metriorhynchus, Dakosaurus, etc.), once among the group leading to modern crocodiles, and once among the otherwise terrestrial notosuchians. Several lineages that lived in freshwater went on to become at least partially marine.

A good summary figure:



Open access! https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36795-1